PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Olivier Denis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonid Shcholkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shcholkin has chosen King Ring as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Denis
vs
Shcholkin

173 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Olivier Denis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonid Shcholkin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denis doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Denis scores with a takedown into Shcholkin's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Shcholkin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Denis stacks Shcholkin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Denis!
A lull in the action here as Denis stalls from top position.
Shcholkin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Denis is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denis stands up and we're back to a striking position.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Shcholkin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shcholkin tries for a takedown but Denis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shcholkin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shcholkin misses with a two punch combination.

Denis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
It looks like Denis is going to stand back up.
Shcholkin pushes Denis off looking to stand but Denis dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Denis decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Shcholkin closes the distance and pushes Denis back into the cage.

Denis breaks from the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Denis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Denis wanted to stand there but Shcholkin had control of the position.
Shcholkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shcholkin being controlled here, momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shcholkin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Olivier Denis just wasn't active enough.
Shcholkin is looking to land body kicks.
Denis slaps away a takedown attempt from Shcholkin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shcholkin looks gassed!

Denis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Shcholkin's face as Denis controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shcholkin wants to get back to his feet but Denis drags him back down.
Denis is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Shcholkin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Shcholkin is trying to get back to his feet.
Denis working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Denis lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shcholkin down.
Shcholkin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Denis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Denis dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Denis has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Denis there as he acknowledges the shot.
Shcholkin throws a right and a left that Denis avoids nicely.
Shcholkin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Shcholkin misses with a combination

and Denis counters with a takedown into side control.

Denis decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shcholkin to his feet.
Shcholkin fails with a takedown attempt.

Denis shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Shcholkin is trying to defend but Denis finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Shcholkin is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Denis controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Denis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Olivier Denis wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Denis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Olivier Denis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Denis gets to his feet - Shcholkin follows without any prompting.
Denis shoots in for a double leg but Shcholkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shcholkin motions for Denis to come forward. Shcholkin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Leonid Shcholkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shcholkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shcholkin misses with a combination

and Denis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shcholkin's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Denis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shcholkin wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Denis is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shcholkin tries to roll over but Denis keeps him under control.
Denis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Olivier Denis.
Shcholkin throws a series of punches but Denis moves out of range.

Denis fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Shcholkin to the ground. Denis is now in Shcholkin's guard.
Denis wants to control from the top but Shcholkin keeps moving.
Shcholkin is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Denis dives into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shcholkin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Denis dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Shcholkin throws a right and a left that Denis avoids nicely.
Shcholkin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Denis pinned against the cage. Denis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shcholkin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Denis avoids a punch combination nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Denis.
Shcholkin being controlled for a moment.
Shcholkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Denis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shcholkin has Denis up against the cage in a clinch.

Shcholkin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shcholkin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick misses from Shcholkin.
Shcholkin throws a nice looking combination but Denis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shcholkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Denis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shcholkin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Denis taking a breather here.
Denis works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Shcholkin tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Olivier Denis wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Denis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shcholkin to the mat! Shcholkin manages to get full guard.
Denis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Olivier Denis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Denis dodges the punch combination from Shcholkin.
Shcholkin throws a nice looking combination but Denis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Shcholkin tries to sprawl but Denis drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shcholkin scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Denis manages to mount him!
Denis controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olivier Denis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Denis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olivier Denis!